DNA test raffle encourages new testers

Far North Queensland must be one of the DNA testing hotspots of Australia, but here at Cairns & District Family History Society we still work hard at encouraging even more of our members (and their families and friends) and visitors to try DNA testing as a part of their family history research.

We have recently started an ongoing raffle for a DNA test kit.

Our raffle box is located prominently in our family history centre where all members and visitors can easily see it. We sell tickets for $2 each.

As soon as all the tickets are sold, we draw the prize and start a new raffle.

Although the raffle could easily be used as a fundraiser by selling extra tickets, the purpose of our raffle is to get as many new people testing as possible, and as frequently as possible.

We purchase the DNA test kits in advance, and prepare just the number of tickets to cover the cost to our society. Buying DNA tests while they are on sale is ideal, as it means less raffle tickets are required to be sold.

The prize can be varied too… it could be an AncestryDNA test, a MyHeritage DNA test, a Living DNA test, a 23andMe test, or a Family Finder, Y-DNA or mitochondrial DNA test from Family Tree DNA. Simply adjust the number of tickets required to cover the cost of each raffle prize.

Pre-printed raffle booklets are convenient, or you can print your own customised tickets. Consider including an optional checkbox for adding the purchaser’s email address to your society’s mailing list. Perspex donation boxes from stationery suppliers are ideal, as the money collection box can be locked, and can be emptied regularly for security reasons.

If the winner is one of our regular members, we can get them started with their DNA test almost immediately. If the winner is new to our society or is a non-member, we will present the prize kit to them at our next DNA interest group meeting, in order to give the winner the best guidance and support, and to encourage them to attend future DIG meetings (if your FHS doesn’t yet have a DIG, see tips on How to Establish a DNA Interest Group).

Not everyone can afford DNA testing, and not everyone realises the impact it will have on their genealogy, so this is just another way to introduce genetic genealogy to more people.

DNA test raffles

Why not encourage a DNA test raffle at your family history society, local community group or workplace?

All you need is:

Perspex raffle/ballot box (available from office supply stores) or even just a decorated shoe box or tissue box